Casting machine



Dec. 24, 1935.

BY W paid ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1935. W, Q NEWTON 2,025,069

CASTING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet BYWM r @M ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1935. n w.AG. NEWTON CASTING MACHINE l INVENTOR mL/fw /Vfwo/v BY W d f ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1935. w. G. NEWTON CASTING MACHINE Filed May e, 19:52

4 'sheets-'Smet 4 Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CASTING MACHINE William G. Newton, New Haven, Conn. Application May 6, 1932, Serial No. 609,611

7 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to the making of cast articles, and has for its principal objectto providel a small, inexpensive and safe casting machine adapted to be sold as a toy for use by children A in casting toy soldiers, animals, and other objects which appeal to children.

Certain features of the invention have particular advantages in a small machine of the type adapted to be used as a toy, especially features designed to render the apparatus safe and simple to operate. Certain features of the invention, however, may be of more general applicability.

A machine of the general type referred to forms the subject matter of my application for patent, Serial No. 449,169 led May 2, 1930, and the improvements forming the subject matter of the present case are illustrated as incorporated in a machine of that type.

One of the objects of the present invention is to improve the valve -mechanism for the melting pot. Another object is to provide improvements in the heating means for the melting pot. Another object is to improve the general construction of the machine. Other objects and advantages will herenafter appear. .l

In the drawings forming part of the specification in which certain preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated:

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a casting apparatus embodying the improved construction; i

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1, the melting pot and its associated parts not being shown;

Figure 3 is a central, longitudinal, vertical section of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, the mold being shown closed;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, verti cal, sectional view showing a modied construction of the valve;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a modified construction of machine, parts being broken away;

Figure '7 is a partial side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 6 with different sized molds inserted, parts being broken away.

Figure 8 is a plan view of part of the machine shown in Fig. 6; l

Figure 9 is a front view of the mold spacer shown in Fig. 7; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan view of a part of the frame upright of the machine shown in Fig. 6 With the melting pot removed.

In the illustrative embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, a base plate I is provided which is preferably formed of pressed sheet metal, the margin of which is formed to provide a raised rib la. which gives the necessary rigidity to the base plate and 'which also provides a means for 5 retaining any metal which may be spilled during the operation of the device. On the base plate is mounted a U-shaped sheet metal frame for supportng the mold sections and the operating mechanism therefor. This frame comprises a l0 bottom member 2 and upright members 3 and 4 in the form of plates. The upright plate 3 constitutes a support for a stationary mold section 5. Horizontal guide rods 6 are fixed to plate 3 and at their other ends extend loosely through openings l5 in the upright plate 4. A movable die supporting plate IIJ is provided with guiding and supporting sleeves II, sliding on the supporting rods 6. 'Ihe plate I0 serves asa movable support for carrying a movable mold section I2. Brackets I3 on the 20 outer face of the plate I0 embrace a lever I4 and carry a pivot pin I4a on which the lever is pivotally supported. The lever I4 is provided with an operating handle I5 and forms one element of a toggle, the other element of the toggle comprising a pair of links I6 pivoted to ears I1 of plate 4 upon pivot pins I8. The links I6 are pivotallycon nected to the lever I4 by a pvot pin I9. When the handle I5 is in an elevated position, the mold sections are separated, as seen in Figure 1. The handle is adapted to be depressed to move the movable mold section I2 toward the relatively stationary mold section 5, the plate 4 being provided with a slot in the upper portion thereof, so

that the toggle may move downward slightly beyond the dead center position as shown in Figure 3. The toggle is preferably so proportioned that the full depression of the handle causes a relative movements of the movable die section and the end plate 4 greater than would be necessary to barely close the mold. The U-frame support being formed of rather light resilient sheet metal, however, is not rigid, and the end 4 thereof may be readily iiexed outward, particularly when acted upon with the mechanical advantage provided by the handle lever and the toggle of which the lever forms a part. Since the depression of the handle I5 produces relative separation of the end plates 3 and 4, the frame is put under stress tending to return the end plates towards one another. When the toggle is moved slightly beyond dead center, the stress of the frame is effective, therefore, to lock the toggle below the dead center position, and hence to maintain the mold sections firmly clamped against one another.

Mountedonthebase I intherearofthe plate# is a support 2l carrying the melting pot-22. The support 2| is preferably in the form of a bent sheet metal frame, the bottom of which is' attached to the base I. while the sides extend upwardly andaresecuredtoandbraoedagainst the plate 3 by means of brackets 2l. At their upward edges, the sides of the support 2| are bent inwardly to form horizontal flanges 24 to which the base of the melting pot is attached in any suitable manner, as by screws 2i. At their rear ends the flanges 24 are provided-with upwardly bent ears 26 in which is journaled a shaft 21 provided with crank portion 2l. By reason of the heated melting pot being mounted on the metal frame which includes, or is attached to, or is in contact with the carrier plate I to which is secured the fixed mold section l, suicient heat will be conducted from the pot to normally maintain the fixed mold section at a higher temperature than the movable mold section I2. Consequently when a casting has been made and the mold is opened, the casting will ordinarily adhere to the cooler movable mold section and will move with the lattenaway from the fixed mold section and pot. This will bring the casting to a more accessible position for removal than would be the case if it remained adhered to the fixed mold section, and there is less danger of burning the fingers in the process.

The melting pot 22 is provided with a spout 29 so situated that it will discharge metal directly into the closed mold formed by the sections 5 and l2. This spout is provided interiorly with a valve seat adapted to be controlled by a valve 30. 'I'he valve 30 has a stem portion 3| which extends diagonally upward and out through the. rear of the melting pot wall above the level of the molten metal in the pot. 'I'he stem 3| is provided with a notched portion 32 which forms a recess 33 adapted to hook over the crank 2l. f

'I'he shaft 21 is provided with an operating handle 34, preferably formed integral with said handle. When it is desired to pour metal into the mold, the operating handle 34 is raised, thus raising the crank 28 and operating the valve stem Il to withdraw the valve 3l from its seat. To cut oi the flow of metal the handle 34 is moved in the reverse direction, a spring 34a being preferably provided to normally draw the handle down and maintain the valve closed. As a protection to the operator against splashing the metal while being poured, the movable mold carrier plate I0 is preferably provided with a shield lila having a small apperture therein to permit the stream of metal to be observed.

In order to avoid the likelihood of a child discharging the metal from the melting pot while inadvertently leaving the mold open, provision is desirably made of means for preventing actuation of the handle 34 to unseat the valve 30 when the mold sections are separated. To this end provision is made of a bracket 35 projecting from the movable mold supportingplate I0 and adapted to overlie handle 34 whenever the mold is not closed or substantially closed. As seen in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the bracketis in a position to prevent elevation of the handle 34. The handle 34 has a bent out portion 36 which clears the bracket 35 when the mold sections have been moved to closed position so that in that position v no obstruction is presented to the raising of handle 34 and the opening of the valve.

The construction of the valve and its seat in the melting pot is important, as it is desirable that the valve shall in all cases close tightly so as to prevent dripping of the hot metal when the mold is open. The proper construction of the valve presents some difficulties, as the action of the hot metal is deleterious and with some constructions valve trouble would be experienced in the wear of the parts and in the action of slag, which may be present, in lodging between the valve and its seat, and preventing proper closing of the valve. In Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, I l have illustrated one very satisfactory construetion for overcoming these objections. As' here v shown, the-spout of the melting pot 22 is provided with a conical valve seatllrfllfhegalve 3l is cylindrical with a flat end thereby providing 11 a. sharp angle adapted to seat against the conical valve seat. Engagement of the angle with the conical seat provides a line contact and the angle of the valve will cut through the flowing metal and any slag which may be present so as 2| to seat itself firmly against the valve seat and eil'ectually cut oil.' the ow. The recess 33 in the valve stem firmly engages the crank 28 so that the crank can move the valve stem up and down, but at the same time itis possible to lift'thezi valve stem so as to disengage the recess from the crank, whereupon the valve stem and valve may be withdrawn so as to permit free discharge from the melting pot as may be desirable in completely emptying the same. 'I'he lvalve seat may then 3( be readily cleaned and the valve may be cleaned andinspected, or replaced if necessary.

In Figure 5 I have shown a modified construction' of the valve in which the spout of the melting pot has a passage 45 through it which is de- 8l sirably made cylindrical, and which forms a sharp angular valve seat 4B, where it intersects the inner wall of the melting pot. The valve stem Il is carried throughinto the passage 45 in which it moves loosely so as to form a guide for the l valve, while leaving a free passage around it fork the molten metal. The valve itself Lis preferably in the form of a steel ball 41 fixed on the valve stem, the spherical surface of which seats against the edge of the angular valve seat 46. 'I'he line 46 contact between the sharp edged valve seat and the ball insures that the owing metal and any slag which may be present will be cut through when the valve is closed so that tight closure will be obtained at all times.

Suitable means are provided for heating the melting pot, such means being preferably in the form of an electrica-l resistance heating element. I have found a very satisfactory -and inexpensive construction for tlus purpose to consist in wrap- 55 ping the lower part of the melting pot with a number of turns of resistance wire 5l insulated with an asbestos covering Il. The asbestos insulation on the wire insulates the turns from each other, and also insulntes the wires from the 00 metal wall of the melting pot. A packing 52 of asbestos or asbestos cement is conveniently placed over and around the turns of insulated wire. Enclosing the wires and insulation is a metal sleeve 54 which provides a protection for the insulation 05 and a finish for the melting pot and this sleeve is preferably carried upward beyond the insulation and flush with the top of the melting pot,

thereby providing an air space 55 and acting as a shield to prevent burning of the operators hands by accidental contact with the heated wall of the pot. 'I'he space between the pot and the sleeve 54 is preferably covered by a ring 58- having flanges 51 and Il extending downwardly from its inner and outer edges respectiveLv (Fig. 3), l5

The provision of the flange 51 extending down inside of the upper edge of the pot is important as it prevents molten metal from Working its way down the outside of the pot wall and between the wall and the insulated wire when it may find its way by capillary attraction to the wire itself and thereby cause a short circuit. Without the provision of this cover ring with a flange depending inside of the top of the pot this may happen if a piece of metal is put into the pot to be x'nelted which is long enough to project out of the pot and seat on the edge thereof. When the part of the metal resting on the pot edge melted, some of the metal might run down the outside of the pot wall and cause the damage stated. The end of the resistance wire 50 are carried to studs 53 which are mounted in but insulated from a bracket 60 attached to the back of the melting pot The projecting ends of the studs 53 may be engaged by an electrical connector of the usual type.

Is Figures 6 and 10 inclusive, I have shown a modified construction of the machine. The machine here illustrated comprises a base |00, preferably of cast metal, having a rigid upright projecting therefrom which forms a support for the fixed mold section and for the melting pot |02. The pot is preferably firmly secured to the top of the upright by simple means such as the screws III passing through holes in the ange I|2 at the bottom of the pot. The front portion of the base. IOI is provided with an upstanding flange |03 so as to form a receptacle to catch spilled metal. The melting pot |02 is preferably provided with electrical heating means similar to those described above, and has a spout |04 controlled by a valve similar to that described. To assist in supporting the melting pot, side plates |05 are provided and these have upstanding ears |06 which form bearings for thevalve operating crank I0'I. The latter is provided with a down- Ward extending operating arm |08 to the lower end of which is secured a valve operating lever |09 which preferably has an eye I|0 at its end which receives the end of the arm |08. The lever |09 is preferably provided with an offset portion I I3 similar to and functioning in the manner of offset 36 in lever 34 above described. Firmly supported by, and projecting horizontally from the rigid upright |0| are four guide rods |I5 on which slides the movable mold carrier I6 which is provided at its corners with sleeves through which the guide rods pass. One of the upper sleeves is provided with a laterally projecting lug I4 adopted to engage with the lever |09. The movable mold carrier is actuated by means of a toggle lever I4 and toggle links I6, as in the construction described above. rI'he toggle links I6 are pivoted to ears |20 bent out from a spring plate I2I which is rmly fixed to a crossbar |22. The crossbar is mounted to slide on guide rods |23 mounted on the base, and a rotatable screw threaded rod |26 is also mounted on the base and passes through a screw threaded opening in the crossbar |22. By rotation of the rod |26 the position of the crossbar and spring plate |2I may be adjusted longitudinally of the machine. It will be seen that the plate |2|, when adjusted, will carry with it the toggle mechanism and the movable mold carrier IIB, and thereby permit the latter to be adjusted to accommodate molds of different thicknesses. When large molds, such as the mold sections |30 and I3I, illustrated in Figure 6, are utilized, these are preferably provided with a, plurality of attaching studs |32, a pair of holes being provided in the upright IOI and in the movable mold carrier IIB respectively to receive these studs. The upright IOI is provided with a transverse opening |33 to Y provide for the insertion of the locking pins to 5 secure the mold section to the upright. The upright IOI is also preferably .provided with a pair of spaced vertical ribs |34 against which the mold section |30 bears. This construction spaces the mold section slightly from the upright and prevents the mold section from becoming overheated, although a certain amount of heat will be transmitted from the melting pot to the fixed mold section and therefore keep it somewhat warmer than the movable mold section |3|. It 15 is desirable for the fixed mold section to be somewhat warmer than the movable mold section so that when the mold is opened the casting will pull away from the fixed mold section. This makes the casting more accessible for removal without danger of burning the hands.

In case it is desired to use smaller molds in the machine than the mold shown in Figure 6, for instance a mold such as that comprising the mold sections 5 and |2 shown in Figures 1 and 3, the 25 movable mold section I2 is fixed to the upper part of the mold carrier ||6 which is adjusted to a position nearer to the fixed mold carrier by movement of the plate I 2| and toggle mechanism. In order that the parting plane between the mold sections and the gate may occupy a similar relation to the nozzle |04 as in the case of the larger molds, a spacer is provided between the upright I0| and the fixed mold section 5. Such a spacer is shown in Figures 7 and 9, and 3:, may advantageously be formed of a bent sheet metal plate |40. On the back of the plate is provided a pair of studs |4I. 'Ihe studs are secured in the openings in the upright, as are the studs of the large mold section. The front wall of the spacer has a hole therein to receive the stud of the small mold section. The plate |40 may be of suflicient thickness to be substantially rigid, or it may be made of slightly yielding material so that it will act as a spring and assist the spring plate I2|, providing for the necessary yieldability to enable the toggle to bek closed and so hold the mold parts rmly together. If a sufficiently yieldable spacer plate is used behind the mold it may even take the place of yieldability in the frame of the machine or of the toggle support.

While I have illustrated and described in detail certain preferred forms of my invention, it is to be understood that changes may be made therein and the invention embodied in other structures. I do not, therefore, desire to limit myself to the specific construction illustrated, but intend to cover my invention broadly in Whatever form its principle may be utilized.

I claim:

1. In a casting apparatus of the character described, including a fixed mold section and a melting pot mounted adjacent to and above said fixed mold section and having a spout adapted to discharge above said fixed mold section, in combination, a valve for controlling the flow of metal through said spout, a movable mold section movable towards and from said fixed mold section, and means for operating said valve including a handle having a portion extending along side of said mold sections in a direction substantially parallel to the path of movement of the movable mold section and having an offset therein, said movable mold section having means associat- 'ed therewith adapted to engage said handle and prevent movement thereof to open said valve when the movable mold section is moved away prising separable sections and a melting pot adjacent to and above said mold and having a spout arranged to discharge metal into the mold. in combination, means for opening and closing the mold including an operating handle extending towards the tronto! the machine, a valve for controlling the ilow o! metal through said spout, said valve including a stem extending upwardly and rearwardly from the melting pot, an operating shaft rotatably mounted in the rear of said melting potand having a crank portion engaging said valve stem, and an operating handle connected with said crank shaft and having a portion extending forwardly of the machine alongf side of said mold in a direction substantially parallel to the path oi.' movement o! the movable mold section and adjacent to the handle for opening and closing the mold, and means operable when the mold operating handle is moved for interlocking with the valve operating handle so as to prevent operation of the valve operating handle to open the valve except when the mold is closed.

3. In a casting device including a mold coinprising separable sections and a melting pot adjacent to and above said mold and having a spout arranged to discharge metal into the mold, in combination means for opening and closing the mold including an operating handle extending towards the i'ront of the machine, a valve for controlling the flow of metal through said spout, said valve including a stem extending upwardly and rearwarmy from the melting pot, anoperating shaft rotatably mounted in the rear of said v` melting pot and having a crank portion engaging said valve stemand an operating handle connected with said crank shaft and having a por- 'tion extending forwardly of the machine along side of said mold to a point adjacent to the handle for opening and'closing the mold remote from the mold, the connection between the valve stem and its operating crank being separable to per# nilt readv removal of the valve stem and the v ve. Y

4. In a casting machine ol' the character described, a stationary mold support, a movable mold support, operating means for said movable mold support, a melting pot mounted -abovesaid stationary mold support and adapted to discharge molten metal by gravity through a ilxed oriiice into the gate of mold sections at the parting of the molds carried by said mold supports, and li means for mounting'mold sections ci varying \-thicknesses between said mold supports with the gates thereof in the same relation to said oriiice irrespective of the thickness of 4 the mold sections.

5. In a casting machine of the character described, a fixed' support, toggle means :i'or actuating` said movable mold support, an adjustable abutment for said toggle means, and a spacer adapted to be removably mounted on said fixed mold support for carrying a mold section spaced from said fixed mold support.

6. In a casting machine of the character described, a rlxed mold support, a movable mold support, toggle means for actuating saidmovable mold support, an adjustable abutment for said toggle means, and a spacer adapted to be removably mounted on said ilxed mold support, for carrying a mold section spaced from said fixed mold support, said spacer being yielding and resilient.

'7. In a castingl machine of the character described, a mold suppgrtuhaving'a socket therein, a spacer having a stud'adaptedsto be removably secured in said socket, said spacer having a socket therein; and a mold section having a stud adapted to be removably secured in said spacer socket, `thevsnacer stud and Vso lg ?t,lzwing,sulzistantial duplicates of the mold section stud and the mold support socket,

- WILLIAM G. NEWTON.

2( mold support, a movable mold 

